Lucerne Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1805, the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra is the oldest orchestra in Switzerland. In addition to various concert series in the KKL Luzern, it performs in all opera productions at the Luzerner Theater and, since 2022, at the annual “Le piano symphonique” piano festival. Its programming encompasses the Classical and Romantic repertoire, as well as rarities and contemporary works. The orchestra has commissioned compositions by Sofia Gubaidulina, Dieter Ammann, Rodion Shchedrin, Thomas Adès, and Wolfgang Rihm. Jonathan Nott (1997-2002) and James Gaffigan (2010-2021) shaped the orchestra as Principal Conductors. Michael Sanderling has stood at the helm since 2021. Other important guest conductors have included Constantinos Carydis, Thomas Dausgaard, Charles Dutoit, Marek Janowski, Juanjo Mena, Andris Nelsons, and John Storgårds. Such renowned soloists as Martha Argerich, Rudolf Buchbinder, Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Hélene Grimaud, Daniil Trifonov, and Krystian Zimerman perform in the subscription concerts. The orchestra regularly undertakes tours and to date has traveled to some 30 countries and 90 cities — most recently, in August 2023, to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Numerous recordings, some of which have garnered awards, document its work. The Lucerne Symphony Orchestra has been based in the Orchesterhaus on the Südpol Campus since 2021, maintains its own orchestra academy, fosters young talent through the “Rising Stars” series, and offers a comprehensive music education program that received the “Young Ears Prize” in 2018. In 2023 the orchestra was given the European Cultural Prize for Music yœurope Award.

Lucerne Festival (IMF) debut on 23 August 1993 in a program of works by Schnittke led by Vladimir Kiradjiev.

March 2024